The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
Art for art's sake makes no more sense than gin for gin's sake.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that art should have purpose and meaning, just like one doesn't drink gin without a reason.
W. Somerset Maugham's quote critiques the notion of creating art solely for the sake of art, highlighting that, similar to consuming alcohol, art should serve a higher purpose or intention. It invites a deeper consideration of the motivations behind artistic expression, implying that art should resonate with something beyond its mere existence.
Themes
ArtPurposeExpressionMeaningCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the role of art in society during a lecture.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
All quotes βCronshaw stopped for a moment to drink. He had pondered for twenty years the problem whether he loved liquor because it made him talk or whether he loved conversation because it made him thirsty.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
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The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
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